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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Trauma and Injuries

Spinal injury

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/ˈspaɪnəl ˌɪndʒəri/nounCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, spinal injury means: Damage to the bones of the spine or to the spinal cord inside them, which can cause pain, numbness, weakness or paralysis below the injury.

In Turkish: omurga yaralanması, omurilik yaralanması

How it is used

Suspected after falls from height, diving accidents and high-speed crashes. Crews talk about 'spinal precautions' or 'spinal motion restriction', and about 'clearing the spine' once an injury has been ruled out. 'Spinal cord injury' (SCI) refers specifically to the nerve tissue.

Example sentences

  1. He dived into shallow water, so we're treating it as a spinal injury.

  2. There was no sign of spinal injury, and the collar was removed in the ED.

Common collocations

  • suspected spinal injury
  • spinal cord injury
  • spinal precautions
  • spinal immobilization
  • cervical collarA firm, adjustable collar fitted around the neck to limit movement when a neck or spinal injury is suspected.
  • head injuryAny injury to the scalp, skull or brain, from a minor bump to a serious brain injury with bleeding or swelling inside the skull.
  • immobilizeTo keep an injured part of the body from moving, using a splint, sling, collar or stretcher, to reduce pain and further damage.
  • mechanism of injuryHow an injury happened and what forces were involved, such as the height of a fall, the speed of a crash or the type of weapon.

More terms: Trauma and Injuries

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.